Utilization of nitrate transport proteins to enhance plant growth

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a nitrate transporter gene that includes the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional variant thereof having at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a nitrate transporter protein that includes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional variant thereof having at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a method of enhancing growth in a plant by introducing a nitrate transporter gene of the present disclosure into the plant to result in the expression of the nitrate transporter protein in the plant. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to genetically modified plants and recombinant expression vectors that include the nitrate transporter genes of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nitrate transporter gene OsNPF4.5, wherein the gene comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or a functional variant thereof, wherein the functional variant has at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         2 . The nitrate transporter gene of  claim 1 , wherein the gene comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         3 . The nitrate transporter gene of  claim 1 , wherein the gene comprises the functional variant of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, and wherein the functional variant has at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The nitrate transporter gene of  claim 1 , wherein the gene is in isolated and cDNA form, and wherein the gene is contained in a recombinant expression vector. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The nitrate transporter gene of  claim 1 , wherein the gene is contained in a plant as an exogenous gene. 
     
     
         9 . The nitrate transporter gene of  claim 8 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, soybean, cotton, tobacco, wheat,  Medicago , maize, sorghum, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A nitrate transporter protein OsNPF4.5, wherein the protein comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional variant thereof, wherein the functional variant has at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         12 . The nitrate transporter protein of  claim 11 , wherein the protein comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         13 . The nitrate transporter protein of  claim 11 , wherein the protein comprises the functional variant of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the functional variant has at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The nitrate transporter protein of  claim 11 , wherein the protein is in isolated form. 
     
     
         16 . The nitrate transporter protein of  claim 11 , wherein the protein is contained in a plant as an exogenous protein. 
     
     
         17 . The nitrate transporter protein of  claim 16 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, soybean, cotton, tobacco, wheat,  Medicago , maize, sorghum, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of enhancing plant growth, said method comprising:
 introducing a nitrate transporter gene OsNPF4.5 into the plant, wherein the gene comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or a functional variant thereof, wherein the functional variant has at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1, and   wherein the introducing results in the expression of the nitrate transporter protein OsNPF4.5 in the plant, wherein the protein comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional variant thereof, wherein the functional variant has at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the introduction occurs by a method selected from the group consisting of gene gun introduction methods,  agrobacterium -mediated introduction methods, pollen tube channel introduction methods, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the expressed nitrate transporter protein OsNPF4.5 enhances plant growth by enhancing the plant's absorption of nitrogen. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method enhances plant growth by at least 25%, at least 50%, or at least 100% relative to plants without the introduced nitrate transporter gene OsNPF4.5. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a step of associating the plant with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and wherein the associating comprises inoculating the root of the plant with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, soybean, cotton, tobacco, wheat,  Medicago , maize, sorghum, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A genetically modified plant, wherein the genetically modified plant comprises an introduced nitrate transporter gene OsNPF4.5 wherein the gene comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or a functional variant thereof, wherein the functional variant has at least 65% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         30 . The genetically modified plant of  claim 29 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, soybean, cotton, tobacco, wheat,  Medicago , maize, sorghum, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)